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«You returned to where you had come from».There is nothing new !!
Mishari Al-thaidi*

It is three years today since the September 11 th attacks; all I can say is to repeat what prophet Mohamed (pbuh) had said: «You returned to where you had come from».

Those who are barricaded in trenches of Western and American hatred would be quick to ask whether I feel sorry for American to this far extent; my answer to them is that I, in fact, feel sorry for ourselves.

September 11 th attacks had been a catastrophe on us much more than it had been on the US. What did American lose as a result of this reckless crime? A few thousand casualties… a short-lived shock…. so be it! But, American remain composed and was able to retort with more than just a tit for a tat .. Bin Ladin's gang razed two towers in New York and attacked a Pentagon wing, but in retaliation, the US razed Taliban government and overthrew the Iraqi dictator and his group. Moreover, it has gained the reasons for interference and practicing influence under the umbrella of the war on terrorism everywhere and in an unprecedented smooth way.

It took us –Arabs- a while to comprehend that atrocity; many of us cheered; a few felt worried and shocked. Over time, worries and tension intensified.

I can still remember the cheering and applause of some who were watching the towers collapse in New York. I

were watching without being able identify my exact feelings; it was a combination of astonishment and confusion. My thinking was hijacked, I would say, by the horror of the event, but hours later I started to comprehend; I did realize that it was a moment with significant consequences.

Since then, I have reinforced my previously-held conviction that «no to terrorism»; it was a decisive, loud and strong «no». I was never satisfied with the arguments that indicate the existence of some acts that justify what happened. Nor, have I been satisfied with arguments such as «what happened was Jihad», or «Usama bin Ladin is the leader of the Mujahideen» and «what happened was Manhattan blessed conquest».

In fact some groups of Arab leftist intellectuals, in addition to the majority of Islamists, were glad with the attacks on New York and Washington. They have expressed their gladness either by focusing on the crimes of America «the Great Satan», or through highlighting the tragedies of Muslims in Kashmir, the Philippines, Maluko Island and Africa…. etc. Talking repeatedly about these issues was meant to obscure the significant question of September 11 th: why did a group of Arab youth commit this crime?

Having said that, we are not underestimating the tragedies of underprivileged nations, but why did this group of youths committed this act, and how have they put Muslims in the biggest existential challenge in present day history?

Is a protest to the US unjust policies towards us? I doubt the adequacy of this reason, for we are not the only nation to experience occupation, displacement and unjust US policies; remember what happened in Latin America and Asia…

If this is the case, why have two French journalists been abducted and threatened with slaughtering? France was in the forefront of the global protests against the US and the war on Iraq as well as a sympathizer with Arabs and Muslims. So, what are the French foreign policies that harm Muslims?

The issue is simpler that we can expect, but it is dangerous at the same time! It is a war on religious and cultural identity. When the kidnappers failed to find a good reason for abducting journalists from a country that has friendly ties with Muslims, they have abandoned their traditional allegation about expelling foreign troops from Iraq, as France does not have any troops in Iraq. What justifications could they use in this case? Well….France should amend its Hijab Act and stop implementing it!!!

What about Nepal…. t

Readers Comments on this article:

Hajee Ahmed, Assalamualikum It is extremely dissapointing that your article chose to place the beloved and blessed words of Rasool Salalahu Alayhii Wa-sallam next to a picture of a women not properly attired.It is irrelevant that she was a victim of the events on 9/11, as the disrespect shown to the mentioned Hadeeth is profound indeed. Moreover, it is an Islamic legal principle that a person is innocent until proven guilty. I cannot recall Usama Bin Laden being found guilty in a court of law, even it was in abstentia, as no evidence has been forthcoming to prove that he was responsible for the things he has been accused of.This evidence was requested by the Taliban so that he may be tried in an Islamic Court, but instead of access to it, they were bombarded.We cannot as muslims make statements about a persons guilt if an Islamic court has not made a judgement.Check the books of Shariah.This world will only improve if every muslim decides to practice Islam according to the way shown by Nabi Muhammad Salallahu Alayhi Wa-sallam, and not suffer an inferiority complex or be apologetic thereof. May Allah guide us all onto the Siraat-ul-mustaqeem.Ameen.Was-salaam.

oka tolfer, good job, I did enjoj reading your worlds and thought, please keep it all up, God help us all.

Brian Torri, Nice article. Criticizes or takes issue with America the way many Muslims need to, and America needs to hear. Our cover for doing stupid things is fast fading after the Cold War (thank God!), and not a moment too soon. That being said, I think the criticism of terrorism is right on the money and a very moral stand. I commend you for your courage when many would call into question your Muslim-ness, though those folks are hardly a majority, aren't they? Same as here in America, trust me. We have our fundamentalist Christian nut-jobs, and they stay in their own little corner of the world, content to talk intensely only with others just like themselves. And our politicians are not much better than yours. It's funny that way how much the scenery may change how much remains the same, even with the differences in culture and religion. With your worldview, you could probably do a good Tocqueville-like journey across America and write about the land you find. The goal would be nothing more than explanation, not excusing us from our failures nor overpraising our assets. Good luck and God bless you in your efforts.

Arfan Chowdhury, Everyone is right in their own opinion. Anyone who is true muslim believe in peace and freedom. Non muslim cannot blame all muslim for some bad deeds done by terrorist grous. But why did 9/11, spain rail, bali nightclub,russian school bombing happened because of western strong ties with israel and not negociating the palestanian and chechan domestic problem. That what every terrorist demand " GIVE US OUR PALESTAIN AND CHECHAN BACK"

John Gallagher, Hajee: Your words are quite interesting, but I must say with all due respect that they reflect a profound ignorance. Is the Word superior to the Spirit, or must the Spirit move us to behave with compassion? No holy book can replace the fact that we are given opportunities in life to act with compassion and mercy. If you saw a naked woman would you shun her or clothe her? Is an image of a suffering person a lesson to us or is it an opportunity to react harshly to that suffering? I also ask you that do you judge a person by their acts or by their clothes or by how they can parrot back a surah! If you believe in God you his judgements and actions are his own; that he makes the rain shine and the sun rise on the evil and the good! As someone who was there that morning and who now suffers from severe asthma and high blood pressure as a result I have tried my best to seek out Muslims and be compassionate to them because I know that hatred and revenge have no place in our future. I will never be a Muslim, but I know you are my brothers and sisters. As your brother I ask you to look beyond your narrow predjudice and show compassion and look for empathy. Enough killing.

Adel Harb, I agree with most of what you said. We as muslim arabs have to solve our problems first and to act as a unity in o order to be strong and build our own power accordindg to the islamic base, then we can judge what is going around in the state, europe..etc. It is true thet everyone in the word is feeling sorry for what happened to the innocent peoble in the attack every place in the world, but we have to know what are the reasons behind all these attaks. Infact there are alot to say but every one who had beeb living withen this community realises that there are reasons provoke these things from one dimension, othe point to say is not every thig said in the media is true and the idea now is to correlate all the attacks happenning in the world in order to give a bad image about islam. we have to know that these people some times have the right to do these attacks but we to think about the victims and innocent people. The time will come and reveal that Islam is religion for all people that asks people to live in peace.

ilyas rehan, There are some fundamental laws of the universe, one of which is the law of action and reaction, the law of cause and effect. The Taliban did not just magically appear, Beslan was not just a random act of violence, the Twin Towers were felled for a reason, Palestinians don't just kill themseleves for fun. The reactions outlined in the article are exactly what I felt when I watched, with collegues, what happened on the 11 September 2001, FEAR. Yes there are muslim terrorists, liberation fighters, rebels, freedom fighters, but they are acting for reasons, not randomly. Example: one of the hostage takers in Beslan had seen all his children killed by the Russian Army. Imagine seeing all your children die before your eyes, do you think you could ever think rationally again? It is interesting to note that Western European governments whilst rightly condemning these acts of barbarism have also quietly maintained that the reason Beslan occurred can be traced to Russian Army brutality, murder and mayhem in Chechnya, a direct consequence of Putin's policies. Strange isn't it how they missed the opportunity to give thew same frank advice to the US after the 11th September. I condemn acts like Beslan, 11th September, Bali, etc, etc, but lets not forget there are sometimes specific reasons why these events occurred. Focussing on why these events occurred should be a greater preoccupation of our time than lambasting our morality, which to my eyes is not at fault. Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth is a pretty fundamental human law mostly independent of religous interference especially when you see your family die. For example why isn't there a deep consensus and most importantly action in all arab governments to sort out the Palestinian issue, this could be as good a reason as any for the eventual tumbling of the twin towers. Cause and Effect. If the 11th September teaches us anything it's that if you blame yourself, nobody is going to argue against you.

K McNamara, The shortsightness of this reporter dumbfounds me. The French ban is not an Arab specific ban, it is a ban on all religious appareil in schools. You can wear your scarfs or hammer a cross onto you hands in the streets if you want. There is a complete seperation of church and state. Your fundamentialism fails to see through your biased opinions. As your your dysentry on the 9/11 tragedy, you have underestimated the impact of the 9/11 attacks and the resulting enemy that was discovered. I'm cetain the Americans are not looking for your sorrow, but rather your support to root out these scum elements of the world, whatever religion they were.. something your government/religion seems to have supported

Mohammad Awad, I agree with your article completely. I am also pleased to see finally that we are taking the responsibility to check our actions. As for Mr. Ahmad Hajee, I am sorry to say that you are a very ignorant man for saying that about the woman, if you claim that Muslim Religion is for all humanity then how do you regard this woman as not worthy?!! Especially that she went through a very deadly attack. Mr. Hajee, people like you are the exact embarrassment to us as Muslims; I must say to you may Allah help you to find the right path.

Nancy in Maryland, As a comment to the opinion cited by Mr. Hajee Ahmed, I must say that the image of the woman under the words of the Prophet is absolutely appropriate and iconic. Does Mr. Ahmed fail to realize that this woman is indeed fully covered -- covered by the dust created after the fall of the towers, dust composed of atomized bits of her co-workers, their would-be rescuers, and their work places? Fingers to hair to toes, she is fully cloaked in the dust of that horror. Mr. Ahmed, God reveals himself in the dust storm, and not just to men. Please remember the Matriarchs of our three revealed religions -- Sarah, Mary, Fatima, Zainab, and so many others. Those women also knew great grief, as the will of God. Do not dismiss so superficially half of mankind; we will all eventually be reduced to dust and memories.

Ali Alanezi, As a true Muslim who believes that Islam’s role in life is to enlighten mankind, I am really shocked how this Hajji is sightless. Brother, the Prophet, peace be upon him, whom you are claiming knowing his teaching once told his companions that “guiding one man to Islam it is better for you than the present life”. Do you have now days - out of shame – the ability to introduce any non-Muslims to Islam? Mr. Hajji, the Prophet, peace be upon him, also said “ you either say something good or say nothing”, so would you please shut up.

kumar, The education system in Saudi Arabia is at the root of terrorism.It prepares more mullahs than engineers and doctors. No wonder not a single saudi has ever managed international recognition in any field except terrorism!! Also you guys need to loosen up on your religious fixation and recognise that there are other religions besides Islam which are equally good for the soul.

A.A, By God, I pray for the innocent victims of the Beslan tragedy and the 42000 innocent kids butchered by the Russian army under direct orders from Mr. Putin.

Jeffry Gunn, The West will bury Islam because it is, like all systems of Fascism, inherently evil and blind to it's own hatred. It is not a religion of peace. It is a religion of conquest and destruction.

Adom, I enjoyed your article and the responses, even the ignorant replies as it shows that at least a dialogue is being started between the west and Islam. My main comments are for Ilyas Rehan. As you astutely cited, the so called terrorists have in some cases felt terror in their own lives and this maybe a reason for their actions, and this maybe the case in relation to recent activites in Russia. However, these blind men have only done the same to the Russians. Like the American people, the people of Madrid, the Brittish in Saudi, the Austrailians in Indonesia and many others; terror has helped to make them enemies of Islam. This is surely not profitable for the world or any people. Soon Americans will vote and they will be thinking about terror when they do. And so many will vote for Bush. If Muslims are unhappy about this, they only have the terrorists to blame. For he is obviously the terrorists choice for President.

Olivier Grenier, It is because of closed-minded people like Haji Ahmed & Jeffry Gunn, that the situation is what it has become. Both retrenched on so-called principles, when all i see them express is hatred & ignorance for one another. Haji for showing now compassion for the victims & Jeffry for his ignorance of Islam. The bible and the Coran are guides but murder in their names stems from misunderstanding or appropriation of what they say in the name of a political cause. France is right to separate the church from politics as, as history has showed us, it then becomes a loaded weapon for political ideals, conquests & massacres.

L Stokes, Jeffry Gunn I am can’t believe your narrow-minded thoughts! Who are you to tell people that what they believed their whole life is wrong and inherently evil. I think your ignorance clouds your judgement. Have you read the Koran? Do you know what it teaches? When you have then you can make a comment about it. The problem of today is that people use religion to accomplish their own goals and forget their own teachings. Christianity is the same, it teaches peace but people use it as a weapon to promote there own injustices, look at one example today the “Lords Resistance Army (LRA)” they keep on killing, mutilating and abducting thousands of innocent civilians, including children in the Christ’s name and we all know the history of Christianity, so then Jeffry are you now going to say that Christianity is Fascist and inherently evil just because people have used it to there own means. I hate it when people promote death and killing of innocent people in the name of there religion, how can God accept a person when they willingly killed his own creation in his name without giving that person a chance to learn about the religion you feel so strongly for, to me that sounds hypocritical If some person killed my family and then I killed his am I not the same as the person who killed mine? I am not a Muslim but I know it is not up to us to judge people only God has the Right to judge.

AA, Ali Alanezi - good call Brother, that bloke at the top acts as a Muslim, but his mentality sucks. The guy epitomises all that is wrong about Radical thinking within so-called Islamic circles. These circles are usually run by illiterate, narrow-minded people who don't understand the emphasis Islam places on peace and peaceful struggle. I would love to suggest these people listen to an excellent Islamic Scholar called Dr. Zakir Naik. Listen to his explanation of Jihad, and how it means strife and struggle. How the main implication is to stive and struggle to better your soul and yourself as person. He talks of how people have taken this totally out of context. September 11th is an example of this being taken out of context.

Mohamed Mehta, Br Ahmed Salam I feel you have tried best to bring MERCY OF ISLAM on fore. May Allah reaward you ameen. The most IMPORTANT thing is we have LA ILAHA only on lips not in our heart. Sahabah have this words in their heart. Let us bring IMAAN in our heart by sacrificing this world to those who are for it. We have to worship Allah and see how all other humanity understand and save from FIRE HELL...let us give a best try. Yr Brother Mohamed

Khadige Basma, Nice article. It is about time we say to those killers who kill in the name of Islam - Do not commit such acts in my name or Islam. Islam wants no part in this. Make no mistake, these people are not muslims nor do they follow the teachings of Islam.

Brian Funt, I understand that Israel is an important issue to the Muslim world. But, I am having a hard time understanding why there is such a disproportionate ammount of condemnation on Israel. If there is such a concern for the well-being of Muslims, why do I not hear anything about the tens of thousands of Muslims that have been sluaghtered in the Sudan? I believe it is because this is Muslim on Muslim violence. Israel has become a very convenient scapegoat for failing Arab governments that are not capable of taking care of their own people. Lets not forget that Arabs living in Israel are the most educated, have the highest life expectancy and highest standard in the Arab world. Israel may not be perfect, but somebody please tell me why the alternative is better.

oskar, i just would like to highlight what some people mentioned here...though its understandable why israel preoccupies so much the muslim world the whole issue in my opinion is blown completely out of proportion... israeli arabs however problematic their situation is enjoy rights and liberties unknown in most muslim countries...they can vote and be elected for example...or publish their own newspapers... israel did participated in peace process and at a certain stage pulled its forces out of almost all palestinian cities...peace process has collapsed by now but even now after 3 years of intifada 3000 dead palestinians and israelis didnt make it such a bloody conflict on earth...during the last 10 years tens of thousands of people perished in the civil war in algeria many with thier throats slit by the salafists...and the usual israeli sight of teenagers stoning tanks is unknown in the arab world probably because the arab tanks use to shoot without taking into account whether its children or militants...most of the wars fought between and inside muslim nations make israeli palestinian conflict pale in comparison..iran-iraq war , civil war in sudan ( though fought mostly against non muslims), the opression of kurds in turkey or iraq and so on and so on... i can also mention hundreds and thousands of palestinians slaughtered on different occasions by their own arab brothers...one time for example by the tanks of the king of jordan ..another by the lebanese cristians ...hundreds of thousands of them were kicked out of kuweit for the support of saddam hussein...its highly illustrative that all these episodes failed to impress the audiences in the arab world... the only explanation for it i guess would be that this issue has more to do with the arab nationalism and anti semitic xenophobia and less with the real situation of the palestinian people...sorry if my conclusion insult somebodys feelings...i would be interested to read alternative explanations...

Sam Iam, ilyas rehan, You claim the twin tower happened for a reason. Did the US soldiers kill a muslim's children in front of there children? Show me th act of violence the you feel justifies this. And don't give me the typical Arab "well the US supports Israel and they kill Arabs". That still is not US soldiers doing anything to Arabs.

S. Lofagus, To Oskar: You hit the nail on the head. Arabs are in such a depressing state of ignorance, illiteracy, anti-intellectualism, brainwashing and indoctrination that they have no clue how to be introspective and start shedding light on their self-made stagnation, lack of progress in over 1000 years, and propensity for violence. While a few Arab oligarchs and megalomaniacs run entire countries, they repress, rape, subjugate and tread on the necks of their subjects. To ensure they don't revolt, they give them fictitous renderings of the Arab-Israeli conflict to deflect any attention from the injustice perpetrated by the government and mullahs against their own citizens. Its the oldest trick of the trade - just blame the Jews.

A.A.A, To Mr. Lofagus, One cannot understand Westerns eagerness when it comes to defend Jews and keenness to assault Arabs and Muslims at all?? I lived in The Middle East for more than 30 years and never heard anyone expressing hatred to Christens in specific or Westerners in General. Yes I heard people on a daily basis criticising the western governments polices but not Christianity or Christians as religion or as human being. Before the Zionist occupation of Palestine millions of Jews were living between Muslims and history knows very well if they were oppressed or not! If we go back only 50 years ago we can easily know what the Europeans had done to Jews. The current sensitivity towards Jews in the region is understandable of course, as they kicked almost 5 million Palestinians outside their homes and killed countless number of them. How do you want some one to feel when he saw each day Palestinians living in camps because ‘God’ promise the Jews that Palestine is their land! Isn’t that unjust? However, I want to ask everybody here a question, who are the real friends of USA in the region? Aren’t they the tyrant kings and presidents in the Middle East? So please stop your unlimited insults to Islam, Muslims and Arabs because it is inhuman. If you accuse Bin Ladin of being inhuman so don’t act like him. Yet, why don’t you – Westerners – tell your governments to stop being hypocrite? Why have they supported Saddam for example? Why was the USA closest allay against USSR during the Cold War is their number one enemy now? I can tell you why; because of interests… you – Westerners -are materialistic people, ready to put your hands into the hands of devil to obtain your benefit. Final word to Lofagus, we don’t blame Jews for every thing, as one cannot be a Muslim if he doesn’t believe of Christianity and Judaism but I want to ask you a question what do you think of the Israeli Army kicking old man and his wife and kids in the open sky to blast their house? Isn’t that a collective punishment? Or is it because they are Jews you turned a blind eyes into their wrong doings?

Brian Funt, A.A.A - Why not blame the UN for those 5 million being diplaced 50 years ago. YOu calim that Israel doesnt abide by UN resolutions, but Israel was breated by one, and obviously, you feel you can pick and choose which resolutions aught to be followed. And your 5 million number is way off. It was actually much less, and all were invited to stay. You seem so appalled by the many "Palestinians" that have been killed, but if you really know your history like you claim to, you would know that more "Palestinians" have been killed by Egypt and Jordan, than by any other country. Why does that not make you mad? Why are you not mad at Egypt and Jordan? This gets back to the simple point as who is convenient to blame.

S. Lofagus, To AAA: Your indoctrinated “historical” perspective sheds light on Arab ignorance, subjugation and lack of intellectualism and introspection. You are fools that can’t think for yourselves and who just follow whatever your dictators, mullahs, ulamas, or kings tell you to believe. Firstly, there is no “eagerness” in the West to defend Jews and assault Arabs. That is something that only emanates from the Muslim world in its reciprocal form. Actually, many Westerners are anti-Semites, especially in Europe. Islam is an expansionist imperialist religion that will use brute force if necessary, especially lately when globalization has forced it to come in contact with the West. The West is civilized and will not allow that to happen. Islam also invokes claims of maltreatment in the West because it knows that the dynamics of liberalism and democracy will try to address this as “racism.” The fact is that no people are more racist in this world than Arabs. Just recently, they have killed two million Christians in Sudan, so far have killed 50,000 black African Muslims in Darfur, and are one of the very few societies in the world where slavery is still condoned (because the “enlightened” Koran says so) and where women are worthless temptresses aligned with Satan (because the Koran says so). Everyone not Muslim, especially not Arab Muslim, is a kaffir (because the Koran says so) and worthy of derision and even death if the typical Arab mob mentality prevails on occasion (because the Koran says so). If Arab Muslims are such enlightened people, why is it that Christians, Jews, animists, atheists, Hindus, Zoroastrians and even Shia are not tolerated to practice their own religion in Saudi Arabia? Western countries allow all these different groups to live in theirs. In other Arab countries these same people are treated as second-class citizens if they are Jews and Christians and outright executed if they don’t believe in god or many gods. What a wonderful model of tolerance! Jews and Christians, throughout Islamic history, have been subject to dhimmi status and forced to pay the yizha tax to acknowledge their subservience and subjugation to Islam. It is estimated that about 1,000,000 Jews were killed by Islam since its inception, most during Islamic mob riots in place like Baghdad, Casablanca, Fez, Damascus and Alexandria. Arabs and Muslims live freely in the West and pay the same taxes and have the same rights as anyone else. Why did Mohammed (a ruthless avaricious thug/dictator) exterminate the Jews in Arabia? Not only did Jews found Yathrib (Medina), they predated Islam on the peninsula by hundreds of years. Instead Mohammed set a precedent for the annihilation of anyone differing with his dictatorial agenda. In terms of Israel, your indoctrination is appalling. The UN partitioned the British mandate in 1947 into two countries. Israel accepted this, whereas the Arabs did not. Instead Arabs invaded Israel in 1948 after Israel declared independence, in order to drive the Jews to the sea and exterminate them. Israel, outgunned, outmanned, managed to win the war because typical Arab inefficiency and internal squabbling left open opportunities that the Jews took advantage of. While the Arabs invaded they told the 900,000 local Arabs to flee and return once the annihilation of the Jews was complete. As we all know this did not come to pass. Of the million, around 800,000 (not 5,000,000 as you ignorantly claim) fled thanks to Arab instigation. The remainder stayed trusting the Jews after Jews pleaded for them not to leave. The latter Arabs became Israeli citizens (now numbering 1.3 million) and now enjoy the highest standard of living, highest longevity in the Middle East. They also are free to vote, to practice their religion, and to think and have representatives in the Israeli Knesset. They don’t pay a yizha tax, by the way, and have the same rights as other Israelis. Concurrently, in Arab lands, 1,000,000 Jews were expelled and their p

A.A.A, To S. Lofagus: I am really insisting that this site is not for to hopeless dialogue. However, I am really impressed by your information about the region although I wish that you could match it with some politeness when you speak about others religions and prophets. Remember that you can’t be civilized because you are knowledgeable but you need to be respectful to be so. One can easily abuse any holy book but this is not the way to behave. You raised so many points in which I can easily replay to but believe me this site was provisionally formed to encourage the currant need for civilization dialogue by highlighting each other mistakes not by mocking The Torah or the Bible like you are doing To Quran. I am sure that there are plenty of Jews and Christians who will refuse your behavior. Yet, I gust want to tell you what the Israelis themselves have say in the BBC one month a go in a series about the generals of the Israeli army. The Jewish Doctor from The University of Tel Aviv said it loudly for the entire world to hear that when we came to Palestine our slogan was “ A land with no people for a people with no land”. This is not my words but the words of the Israeli themselves. Can you tell me what does that slogan means? does it mean what you are saying that: “The remainder - Palestinians - stayed trusting the Jews after Jews pleaded for them not to leave”!!! I am still standing on my position I want you to tell me what do you think of the collective punishment by the Israeli Army when the kick the Palestinian old women and children outside their house to explode it?

Abrahim, Abraham: I am a secular I don’t follow Muslim clerics – Ulmah - nor pray at all. Whenever I heard Bin ladin I feel disgusting because of the huge hatred he carries inside. S. Lofagus is another Bin Ladin, he is what one can call modern Jewish Bin Ladin. He only sees Blackness in the other part and distinguish himself as a complete white. I haven’t read any criticism towards Israel in his article: it is only the others are wrong and we are sinless. There is a nice English proverb:” you are what you see”. I dedicate it to Osama in his Cave and to the other face of the coin Sharon sorry, I mean Lofagus.

S. Lofagus, AAA: There is very little to respect for a culture that has not produced one single technological, cultural, moral, scientific advancement to civilization in 1,000 years. How can anyone be respectful of a religion that celebrates death and destruction? Arab civilization is in the Dark Ages. The reason you lash out at the rest of the world is because you are aware of your iniquities, your ignorance, your inferiority complex. All you do is quote the Koran and praise Allah. Well Allah is punishing you with ignorance. He punishes you because you follow blindly, rather than question. That’s why the Islamic world is in the Dark Ages. God does not favour people who kill, who subjugate women, who are racists, who do not think, who are not tolerant. He punishes them. On the other hand, Jews, who comprise less than 0.20% of the global population, have produced over 25% of Nobel Prize winners. Jews are at the forefront of science, of technology, of morality, of environmentalism, social justice. They are at the leading edge of ANY field of excellence. You know what the real problem is? It is the deafening silence emanating from the Arab and Muslim world. Where are the voices of moderation? Where are the voices of progress? Where are the voices of innovation? Where are the voices of reform? The very few that do exist, languish in prison or are executed because your mullahs, ulamas and dictators suppress them. Where are the millions of Muslims who should be protesting in the streets of Damascus, Cairo, Rabat, Baghdad, Muscat, Kuala Lumpur, Djakarta, Dar Es Salaam, Tehran, Istanbul against their corrupt, repressive, dictatorial governments? Where are the millions of protesters who protest the usurpation and perversion of Islam by bloodthirsty fundamentalists? Where are the protesters against the barbarian beheadings of innocent people on television? Where are the millions of Muslim protesters advocating peaceful coexistence with the West, with Israel? By your silence, you have demonstrated your complicity and tacit approval of the ideology and methodology of the Islamic fundamentalists. And worst of all, the quiet Islamic masses prove to the whole world they are cowards with no principles or honour. Your window of opportunity is closing fast, because soon the whole world will defeat you, unless you change. Are you suggesting that maybe Westerners should grab innocent Muslims from out of the streets and in front of camera’s chop their heads off? Or disembowel them and dance on the streets while their corpses are doused with gasoline? Or should we celebrate every time a bomb gets dropped on your cities? Fortunately, we are civilized. In terms of your question about the punishment meted out by Israel, it again demonstrates your gullibility. Firstly, do you think it is fair for Islamic terrorists to splatter pieces of old women and children on the streets of Israel when they detonate their bombs? Secondly, it is not collective punishment – it is deliberate and specific. ONLY the homes of terrorists are razed to the ground. It serves as a disincentive for potential terrorists to blow up innocents. So while your revered terrorist is getting his cock sucked by 72 virgins, his family is suffering for his diabolical sadistic actions. Again, you assume the family is innocent. I, as previously stated, am of the opinion that by their silence, the families are condoning their son’s terrorism. Don’t forget that your governments and your private citizens REWARD the same families with lots of money and praise for killing innocent people. I don’t hate much. I am a rationalist, a pragmatist and believe in justice (all three characteristics are anathema to Islam). I will not tolerate people who want to destroy the very foundations of the system I believe in, namely, freedom of thought, justice, tolerance, opportunity, civility, and respect. The latter are universal longings, found in most cultures. For some reason, however, these don’t get displayed much

jenniearcheo, I'll try to order my comments properly, beginning with the article itself. I have to say that I unfortunately agree with the author's concerns about the Bush Administration's intentions. They do seem to be using the horror of the American public after 9/11 to justify a Democratic crusade on the world. Half of the US realizes Bush is an out and out liar. Most of the articles politely use the term "misled", however. ** Brian Torri's comment that "we have our Fundamentalist Christian nut-jobs" is true, but the events of 9/11 have given them more support than they normally would have. For this reason, they now attempt to legislate religious values here in the United States; something our Constitution prohibits and which is anathema to our sense of justice and fairness. It is therefore difficult for us to relate to cultures where this is the norm. *** For example, Mr. Hajee Ahmed's comment about the pictured woman not being "properly dressed" would be puzzling to most of us. She does appear, after all, to be dressed in a business suit (for all we can tell, as she is rather obscured by debris). Please forgive me if my presumption to discuss a religion not my own offends anyone, but does the Quran only state that a woman should dress modestly? Or is it more specific than that? If it is only modesty that is prescribed, then the question becomes "How do you define modesty?" Surely this differs with culture. Is it purely a personal thing? That is to say, am I modest if I feel modest, or only if I appear modest to those around me? **Arfan Chowdhury noted that 9/11 was ultimately the result of the US's strong ties with Israel. Sadly, President Bush downplays this, proclaiming that "They hate us for our freedom." I'm not sure what logic there would be in bombing us and knocking down our buildings in order to convert us. On the other hand, this is the man (with Mr. Rumsfeld) who thinks they'll convert Iraq to Democracy by continuing to bomb them. So you never know. ** To Jeffry Gunn, I really pity you. Are you not blind to your own hatred? It is very unfortunate that Mr. Bush decided to use the term "Axis of Evil" to describe a group of countries in his State of the Union address this spring. Once you have labeled someone (or a nation) "evil", it's very difficult to take that back. Once they renounce chemical or biological weapons, can we say, "Oh! That's great. You're no longer inherently evil!" That makes no sense whatsoever. Evil is as evil does. **** ** -Mr. Lofagus, like Mr. Gunn, you seem to fail to recognize your own hatred and intolerance. Gentlemen, neither side is an innocent victim in the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. There have been atrocities committed on both sides. It strikes me that there is a similarity between Israel's behavior and our treatment of the Native Americans a century ago. No treaty we signed was worth the paper it was written on if we later decided we wanted the land anyway. And it's disgusting to characterize Israel's land grab in 1967 as "the Israelis were even able to GAIN territory while defending themselves." For heaven's sake. Can you not see your own bias? You are quick to accuse it in others. You will win nobody to your side by calling their prophet "a ruthless avaricious thug/dictator." Nor by calling them idiots. Hopefully you aren't employed in anyone's Diplomatic Corps. I see little value in pointing back either to our own history or yours and laying ultimate blame. As I said, there's no innocent side. Mistakes and violence abound. The only solution is to look forward and attempt to reach an agreement. It is unfortunate that Mr. Arafat couldn't quite bring himself to sign on. By the time he realized that he should have, it was too late. Perhaps there is hope for the future, though. We have come close before. Building another Berlin Wall doesn&

S. Lofagus, To jennieArcheo: You are very incorrect in your assessments about my previous postings. Firstly, despite your claims to the contrary, I thoroughly recognize my hatred and intolerance. It is directed exclusively at the ignorant, at people who try to enforce their ideology on me, AND at people like you who believe that negotiating with that ideology will ultimately save your life. You are appalled at Gunn's bigotry, but make every attempt to try to assuage, legitimize and understand Hajee's bigotry. In educated circles that is called being a Western apologist. Unlike you, I don't apologize for holding freedom, democracy, human decency and respect sacrosanct. Is democracy perfect? Not even close. But it is the best system known to humanity which elevates the human spirit and human possibilities. Frankly I don't care if Arabs want to kill themselves, they have been doing so for generations. I do, however, care when they start killing anyone else. Secondly, you are as misinformed about Israel and history just like the indoctrinated Arabs. Israel did not pursue a land grab. It gained territory from which Arabs were conducting daily forays, infiltrations and bombardments on Israel while defending its own country from annihilation against 6 invading Arab armies. Are you that dense? Thirdly, I am not religious. I leave that to the ignorant. .......(..) , What have Orthodox Jews got to do with anything? Do they go around hijacking planes and flying them into buildings? Do they go around chopping off people's heads? I love change and can't wait for the Arab world to change or be changed. Muslims in Turkey and Indonesia are compassionate and love life. Even most Iranians, even though their ayatollahs are bigotted swine, are educated and good people. But Arabs, they are the scum of the earth. They have hijacked Islam with Wahhabism and Salafism and are perverting it for their imperialistic goals. You see, Jennie, unlike you, I am an extremely cosmopolitan person. I am very well educated, very well traveled, speak six languages and have lived in seven countries. I love every cuisine in the world, including Arabic food. But I assure you that Arabs are on the losing end of history, unless they reform quickly. I am not here to win over Arabs. I am here to warn them not to mess with civilized people.

Gracie Forten, The words, "God is pleased" stated on the day of the September 11, 2001 attacks is a crock. The God I know would not condone the attacks that took place. Your God, Allah is it(?), must be the devil incarnate because only satan would put such ideas in the minds of such imbiciles. My God's commandments specifically state, "Thou shalt not kill".

Frank Vorlcek, We all have to take responsibiliy for the terribly tragedies of war and terrorism because we all share the same humanity. As you say, it must be no to Terrorism, not just because of the consequences but also because it is against the wishes of the God that we all share. We are all children of the same God. We must all strive for understanding and compassion towards each other. 9/11 was a tragedy and so was the American wars in response. Pray for peace, dear brothers.

no stand!, Emmmm, i dont want to comment alot on what everyone had said in this column because it's going to take me all day just to note it down. But i do like to point out few things and i won't mention any name, because if i did it will drag this conversation much longer than it was supposed to be. 1st:What are the main purpose of this column to be made at the 1st place? Is it a place to insult or mocking other religions and believes? or is it a place to shout out loud what you all thinking while ignoring others feeling? or is it a place to say your comment on the articles itself. 2nd: Why there are so many comments that i read, which i found to be quiet disgusting to read at to some extent, pointing out to the weakness and the evil side[like some of the commentators used to say it] of on the religion of others? I know that there is so many religion in these world and the main topic that being dispute of is Islam and Christian. But, the main question is, do we have the rights to insult others religion just because we are adopting one? 3rd:It quiet interesting to learn that some of you can come up with such statistic and knowledge on others religion and come up with all the history and stuff. Believe me that i'm just a simple guy and i don't know much like some of you do, but what draws to my attention that it seems that to me most of you, talks about which people were more civilized than others and more intellectual than others and try to start blaming things on others. Emm, i start to laugh a bit when some of you mention the word being more civilized than others. Because as far as i can see, everyone is already civilzed in this world and it's just the matter of which people make up the base resource thay have than others and that's why we come up with the term life standard because everyone is already civilzed,it's just that they don't have the resource like some others do. 4th:Very good debate that some of you have but i think it's way out for some of you because some of you are now trying to stand your ground while trying to accuse others comment of being wrong. Come to think of it,it make syou guy more inmature like young kids while you claim that your are more knowledgeable than the others because only kids way of behaviour that what they say is right 100% while other opinions was wrong. Because if you are more mature person, you don't take what everyone saying is wrong but instead you start to admit some of it was right because that's the way we should think, because IF EVERYONE WAS RIGHT THAN WHO IS WRONG THAN? 5th:It seems to me that rihgt now the topic has change from insead of giving comment on the articles, you people start to balming each others on what happened surround you. If we all keep saying what we have and what others don't,we won't be and will not be live in peace with each others. Instead we start to look what we do have the smae with others than we can start agree on something or maybe everything.... 6th:I'm not saying that some of you are not civilized, but rather being rude to others but when we start to talk, please do think 1st before saying it, Because beleive it or not the most sharpest thing in the world was not sword,lased or all that thingy sophisticated stuff but the sharpest thing in this world are HUMAN TONGUE!!! Look how you can easily hurt others feeling with what you have just said!!!! 7th: to anyone out there that start to make differences to some of the holy book, don't speak your tongue out when you only know a little part of it without knowing the whole part of it. If you do want to make comments, please do revize each of the holy book, learn from each one of it and then start to make comments on others religions 8th:I'm not saying whose bad or not in these world and who should we blame but if something do happened don't bring your religion to stage because beleive me there is no religion in these world telling his

TRUTH, i think the best part of the comment was the last one.The main aim of the muslim world is to gain knowledege.The first words of quran was "read, read in the name of u r lord"And the importance of pen ismentioned in the very first revealation to prophet.Yes i agree that we have been ignorant of the changes that have taken in the feild of science.we must improve and overtake the other religions in the years to come.YES THIS WILL HAPPEN AND VERY SOON THE WORLD WILL SEE IT !!!!yes iknow iam deveating from topic but i think this is necessary.FOR AMUSLIM IT IS VERY VERY NECASSARY TO HAVE BOTH THE EDUCATION--OF THE WORLD AND ALSO OF THE RELIGION IN WHICH WE ARE LAGGING!!!because it is not different from religious teaching.And i believe that it will come some day;perhaps very soon.And we muslims all around the world take these as different things.The parents must educate thier children both the education types than only we will be respected all around the world and we can achieve self suffiency and do not depen on others.Then only by seeing the actions of atrue muslim the non- muslims will be motivated and will come to know about islam and thus it will spreadmore fastly than never before.Thus islam gives importance to actions and not merely agression which has been bestowed on as the last possible way for SELF DEFENCE.Thus ihope one day will come when there will be no one to raise finger on us our prophet and ALLAH.

bjs, As an American, I must let my feeling be known about the matter. I read that some stood and cheered as the towers fell. This only looks shameful on you. Certainly not anything to brag about. But I guess that depends on who you are trying to impress. To most people it just makes you look foolish. But if those cheering want to look like fools, then so be it. Anyone that cheers a death, is a fool. I do not know how long it will be before you can see for yourself that terrorists do not target just one type people. A person filled with hate doesn't just stop at hating one person or one type person. You are beginning to see a little, when they take hostages that have nothing to do with fighting in Iraq and murder them, behead them. Hate is like a disease that eats away at humans and makes them not human. What will you do when they take you or a loved one as hostage simply because you are just available and their hate and inhumanity has only grown to encompass everyone except themselves. How silly you are to think you are safe from that. The next point I want to make is calling the hijackers of 9/11, "youths". They were not youths. They were grown men. Youths are those that are not yet adults. True, they were young adults, but still adults. To call them youths is to try and explain away their actions as those of children without the mind of an adult yet. Youths are those that still need care and guidance from adults. They were old enough to make their own decisions and lives. And to the person that made a comment about the attire of the woman in the photo, there is nothing wrong with her manner of dressing. I do not demean the way of dress in your country, and mutual respect should be forthcoming. If people want to cover themselves and their head here in this country, they are free to do so and many Moslims do. Would I be free to be in your country and not cover my head? They are free to do that here because they are free to express their religion in that manner. There are some here that would like to take away the freedom of that. Not allow the head covering. But it is a small minority that wants that. Maybe that minority of people learned from watching the news of your country. Where all must have the same religious manners and even impose it on visitors. You do have a right as a country to impose that on visitors. I don't really have a problem with the idea nor do I speak badly of it. But you do not have a right to think your ideals are right and just for our country and citizens. We are all free here to have our own religions and to follow our own beliefs as to right or wrong.

Jodi Allen, The 911 terrorists and ALL terrorists are COWARDS!!!!!!!! I cannot believe that the terrorists believe that they were doing the work of God. You don't measure your loyalty to God by killing and attacking innocent people, and it is not a way to measure being a man. REAL MEN LOVE JESUS. The Terrorists are only using God as an excuse to act out in evil ways and they use God to justify it. In America we support, love and accept all people by the love of Jesus Christ our savior. We will not be defeated by people who say different. We only want what is best and safe for everyone no matter if you live in the East or West. God Bless You and your families.

Len Noel, RUTHLESS AND BARBARIC SLAUGHTER ------------------------------------------------------ 1.) Captors Kill Margaret Hassan Agence France Presse BAGHDAD, 17 November 2004 — The British-Irish aid executive Margaret Hassan, kidnapped by rebels in Iraq, was feared dead yesterday... Hassan, kidnapped last month in Baghdad was said by her family to be probably dead, while Al-Jazeera television said it had received a video showing a blind-folded woman being shot, who was apparently Hassan. British Prime Minister Tony Blair expressed his “abhorrence” at the apparent killing. Following her kidnapping, Hassan was shown pleading for her life in a series of videos released by the hostage-takers, who also threatened to hand her over to a group led by Islamic militant Abu Mussab Al-Zarqawi unless British troops left Iraq. Zarqawi’s Al-Qaeda-linked group of Jihad in the Land of Two Rivers (Iraq) beheaded another British hostage, Kenneth Bigley, last month after he was abducted in Baghdad in September with two US contractors. They were also murdered. ------------------------------------------------------ 2.) US Probes Slaying of Injured Iraqi Barbara Ferguson, Arab News WASHINGTON, 17 November 2004 — The US Defense Department is investigating the shooting of an apparently wounded and unarmed Iraqi prisoner by a Marine in a mosque in Fallujah, Iraq. The video sequence filmed by NBC reporter Kevin Sites, shows a squad of Marines finding a room of wounded insurgents inside a mosque... The first Marine is then shown raising his rifle toward a prisoner lying on the floor of the mosque. At that moment, the video is blacked out but the sound of the rifle can be heard. A Marine then says, according to the videotape: “He’s dead now.” Marines I spoke with said the young Marine was “probably under combat stress in unpredictable circumstances,” and said it was probably the act of a young man “who faced intense pressure during the effort to quell the insurgency in the city.” A colonel who recently returned from his second tour of duty in Iraq, told Arab News the Marine in question was wounded in the face the previous day; and that a Marine in the same unit had been killed a day earlier, and five others wounded, as they tended to the booby trapped dead body of an insurgent. “They use bodies as booby traps all the time,” said the Marine colonel, who spoke anonymously. “They wait until Marines are close, then they detonate themselves. From what I hear, the unit didn’t know those guys were supposed to be there. “Those poor kids – they’re on duty day in and day out, and have to deal with corpses and wounded guys that are booby trapped — the insurgents do this all the time. We had incidents where they detonated themselves either in a car full of explosives or with suicide belts,” said the colonel. ----------------------------------------------------- Like it or not, we live in the 21st century and in a global society where we must respect the rights of one another. Throughout the history of war and struggle there have probably been many atrocities committed by every side and this will probably continue as long as stupid men wage war and fight one another. In my mind, however, I will never be able to justify any death, especially the cold-blooded ruthless murder of innocents. The thing that bothers me most about the two deaths above is this: Who will investigate and prosecute the murder of Margaret Hassan? Her murderer will never be brought to justice because it appears to the world that there is no law and no earthly authority in the Muslim world. The insurgents and terrorists seem to want anarchy and the freedom to murder people as they see fit. This is law at the end of a rifle. Only the Islamic can population as a whole can influence the terrori

bleed usteel, WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND,YOUR KING CAN KISS MY ASS!

TH, It is insane to sit here and debate murder and brutality. Muslim or not, we all know in our hearts what is wrong.

Don, a very good article. I'm an American who's blood absolutely boiled the day of 9/11, and it has been on a steady simmer since the attacks. I'll admit that I wanted the whole sale bombing of the middle east in general after the event. So it's probably a very good thing I wasn't in charge after the attacks. In the past I traveled to Turkey and Israel and found both countries charming and their people to be good honest normal people. So upon weighing these experiences and going to my church and praying for patience and understanding I found myself to unable to make blanket statements and able to deciminate the difference between the terrorists and the good honest people of the Middle East. So i do implore anyone posting to this site from the USA to not make blanket statement and try to respectfull of others religion and cultures even if you think you have a lock on the facts and history your presentation should be respectful and not inflamatory. Inflamatory statements don't encourage serious discussions, they just encourage bickering. You can make your points and be respectfull at the same time. I'm quite sure if people wanted to drag up the ugly ugly history of the catholic church in the dark ages, modern christians wouldn't accept that as representing them. I'm a Catholic, ex-military and a conservative republican (so by definition one of the meanest people in america) and still can find it within myself to be respectful to others. There are many Muslims i met here in the states and abroad that are good fair people. So please don't make blanket statements

Jon Sagavi, From all the comments posted and the differences in opinions stated one can understand why the world is such a disturbing place of hatred. It is strange how Islam is the target but not the people who commit these acts. If in truth people who make comments and remarks of hatred looked to the people who have committed such attrocities they would see themselves mirrored, it is never about a specific religion but about the desires of a collective or individual. Violence in the name of Islam is not acceptable, do not confuse self preservation with terrorism. The isreal and Palestine issue has nothing to do with Islam and Judaism, it is all about the people and land. When the IRA were active in the UK, never was a report ever published that Christian terrorists decimate London, or a Headline that said Catholics destroy Plymouth, It was always the IRA whos moto was ' For God and Country'. From this we should learn our lessons that it is not religion but people who commit in the name of religion. How does todays terrorism in the name of Islam differ? It does not.

Romano Pinto, We stand on Guard for the sake of misled, unproportioned elements without porfolio. Those who sail in the boat of satan, will sail in the same boat they were sent. Later..

UsA, You hit it on nail with the head of the hammer. 9/11 pricked the Giant and awoken him from his sleep. Lets all look at something. In the name of religion, there have been more killed then by any other cause. A lot of people now feel that the Muslims are Religious-Nazi's who treat there woman worst then there ox, who are involved in 13 out of 15 conflicts on planet Earth. And the old story of Muslims that cannot get along with other people, We see the religion of tolerance and peace demostrated by acts of Murder, hate and intolerance. They kill babes in the name of Islam then run and hide in dark places instead of coming out to fight in the light, with honor. You see the terrorist do not fight with honor. Even the nazi's meet the allied troops in plain view on the battle field. Any punk can throw a bomb and run like a coward. Lets see them stand and fight like real men. God does not honor a coward. " an intelligent man fights with a pen, not a knife" John M. One last thought. The terrorist use killing as a way to communicate. What? peace! for the US to pull out of the middle east. Do you beleive this will be the end result. No you are correct in that it will galvanize the us's conviction to change the middle east. So the terrorist are to stupied to know that there efforts are not only futile, but will back fire on them and not only force the US out , but make the US come in even stronger. The baby that cries the loudest gets feed first.

UsA, Wanted to add that I don't blame Islam for the events, but the people that wrap themselves up in it. I feel it is time that the Isamic people police themselve and let these terrorist know they are not doing what is right. In the United States, there is a law that states that if you witness a crime and do nothing about it, it makes you an acomplince to that crime. How may people in the middle east watch there own people carry out these attacks and did nothing. but let these people shame there religion? If the guy next door to me was going to blow a school up, I would do all I could to stop him. It is our duty, I don't care what country you are from or relgion you practice. As world people of the world we all have a duty to defend what is right. We are one world. and all one people. Our long term servival as a planet depends on us all getting along. "they were to busy fighting each other to notice the lion poised to strike"

saeeda naz, I am not sure what the writer is trying to say, if he is trying to say 'Poor Muslims because America has been attacked and now we are going to get it then I agree'. I do think more people, however, need to start talking about rational means of helping Muslims from becoming so distressed that they feel they have to retaliate in such manners. I believe that the world has come to this state because Muslims have failed to support each other, the Muslim's have sufficient money to ensure that other Muslims in the World have good living standards by sponsoring children, widows single mothers, and families in deprived parts of the world but they have instead chose to hoard their money. We shouldn't have to look to non-muslim governments or western countries to help our people. We shouldn't be using our funds to primarily arm our brethren (if we are), we should be primarily funding food, clothing, shelter and education of our Ummah, be they in Sudan or in Southern Thailand. Wouldn't it be amazing if Osamo Bin Ladin had chose to do this with his money, he would be FAMOUS not infamous and he would have made a wonderful difference to the world. If I sponsor a child and educate that child in a deprived country, I can teach that child my ideoligies. That child will grow to become a teacher and educate thousands of children in his/her life time about justice, tolerance and living in peace. This is merely what is missing, actual support from our own people to fund the poor. Western societies pump billions into converting poor Muslims to Christianity, which rich Middle Eastern country has done that? I would love to know. Furthermore, shouldnt an Islamic country be the best of all countries? People should be fighting to get into a 'blessed' Islamic country but no such country exists. I am a female living and raising my children in the UK. I would not feel safe living in an Islamic country. Why is that? Is it because Islam doesn't really exist anymore because men have corrupted it such that no females are safe walking alone? I am sure if our prophet had authority and was alive today the reverse would be true.

Jerrit, Many muslims filled with hatred and jelousy twords America use the Isreal/Palistine conflict as an excuse to hate but there can never be peace between Palistine and Isreal, HAMAS will not ever allow it. HAMAS has already declared it wants all Jews dead and will not stop until this is done. Isreal will continue to destroy Palistinian homes and build walls because it must do so to protect it's people.

Thor, While in the desert when it is dark, you will need blankets. Here are a couple. The "terrorists", the people who gave their life in a misguided act of violence, are not the source of this evil. Neither is the religion they believed that they followed. The evil, comes from a small number of extremists, who plan and put to life acts of terror. Neither is the misproportioned distribution of wealth and/or power. The first "blanket" makes sense because firstly: The Quaran is not inherently evil, and neither is Hadith. We in the west do well to remember that the Quaran was compiled and written in less than a year, and has never been changed or translated. It is a religious text with far more credibility and honesty than for example the Bible. When attacking the Quaran, it is not uncommon to find quotations from the 9th Sure "al-Tawba". Translating this word from arabic compromises its many meanings, but it can be understood as breaking off, regret, turning point, conversion. In "al-Tawba" you will find some of the most uncompromising passages against the "infidels". Because of this, the extremist who wishes to use the Quaran and Hadith to misguide people, quote it and the war-hadith that tells of Muhammads struggles (Forgive me for not using the appelation: prophet, but to me: all men are equal under god who reveals himself in mysterious ways.). However, the Quaran also forbids suicide. I believe the verse goes something like this: "Whoever throws himself off a cliff to kill himself, shall in eternity fall inn hells fire." Again, forgive me for translating the text, and please bear with me. This verse cannot be read any other way, than to mean that god has set his cannon 'gainst self slaughter in Islam also. So the terrorists are not following Islam? Correct. But do they believe that they are following Islam? Undoubtedly. They are fed propaganda from extremist leaders, who select verses that fit to a situation. One terrorist was given a passage concerning the preparation of meat as motivation. Muhammad Atta, a 9/11 suicide bomber, was given instruction to carry out cleansing rituals that would normally precede a wedding. So they follow a perverted and twisted version of Islam fed to them by so called "religious" mentors. The misdistribution of wealth and power is not the cause simply because: Hey, how many african terrorists are there?

Mohammed Hussain, I like to express my gratitude and thank you for the nice article. Some of comments made in respond to this article is a bit arrogant, we Muslims tend to forget that arrogance is highly despise by Allah Subhanathala. Sept. 11 was an unfortunate tragedy for mankind and so does any killing of innocent in the world. I am positive if Allah’s Rossul was alive today he would be shameful and would not approve of these haines crime

rhahar abdarheem, It is plain to see that religion is the root of all hatred . history reveals this time and time again . It has been religions job throughout humanities existence to cultivate intolerance and indifference, so as to keep us apart . you see if we were truly together, in mind and spirit . then those powers that are engaging in the manipulation and control of the masses would be revealed. Ask your self, is my neighbors Allah any different or better then my Jesus or another's Buddha. NO . IT IS ALL THE SAME !!!! a story, a book , all boiling down to interpretation. which is all the books were in the first place . and as the words say " You returned to where you had come from." I love you all An atheist

bob shoemaker, Well there are good points and bad points, as like any article. There is no one to blame for what has happend on 9/11 but there has to be a price to pay when a small or large group can act so irrisponcsible, as in anything that someone does. You have to PAY to PLAY..... Other then that I did enjoy our article very much. YEt in the future try not to be so one sided.........

Arfan Ali, Assalamu Alaikum, I think Mr. Kumar is an ignorant person even to his own faith Hinduism. Because one bestowed with good knowledge of his own can never comment on others as he has done. Little knowledge is a dangerous thing. Pl. before commenting on any subject acquire good knowledge on the matter. The same is applied to Mr. Jeffrey also. Donot nurture bitterness to others. I donot see any major conflicting line between Christianity and Islam, where later is descendent of the former. Allah has cited somewhere in Quran not to bear any hatred or hurt people of books means followers of four divine books. Then why these callousness? And don’t try to stain Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam, as whatever he did was approved by Allah, as He is the best judge. Somewhere Allah has cited that ruling the universe is not your work, you do yours and I do mine. Because he knows the every past with every core for He is the sole authority to deal with one in a manner He wishes to be appropriate. Allah Hafiz Wassalam

S Srivas, How come any religion can justify killing of someone? I do not think any religion by its core suggest the voilence, not even Islam, although I have very little knowladge about Islam, but fundamentally every religion started to show a way of life, peace and harmony. If any one can justfy 9/11 in the name of Islam, then how come lots of muslim where killed by muslim brothers in the Islamic movement in Iran? Why Iran-Iraq had 10 years of was?after all both are Islamic country? Don't you guy understand, just few people for their interest does all this in the name of God, Allash, Budha,etc...

Erik, S, Lofagus You still got time. Feel sorry for what you think, for what you say. Your religion doesn't teach you this. When you point one finger to others, three fingers of your own hand are pointing YOU. May god give you proper guidance.

Shujauddin, I think you guys are just depending upon the newspapers only . Before starting ant debate it is necessary to study the background as to what is the real reason, who are the real culprits and why did it happen. i reuest you people to just log on to our most commen search engine GOOGLE and find out the facts

S.Amin, : Terorism-Osama-Al Qaeda,9-11 are intelligence & political tools used to mis represent Muslims & Islam.This is the Ziocon propaganda / plans/acts used to attack Muslims / Islam after destroying USSR.This is the next/ current cold war.Osama & his team only appear in the media / cassettes of Al-Jazeera TV of the Qatar province of United States of America to save the face of USA,Israel,U.K... when in dire shame, after blunders,to rectify,justify & support the mistakes of Bush,Blair...& their team,to help them win elections,get congress,senate,parliament bills passed by OSAMA'S very ,very, very,timely cassette release THREATS.TERRORISM IS THE NEW TOOL USED TO IMPLEMENT THE NEW WORLD DISORDER. AL QAEDA IS SIMPLY A WING OF CIA / FBI / MOSAD / MI-5...'S HIRED BY MONEY & BLACKMAILING AGENTS.IF ANY BODY WANTS TO KNOW WHAT AL QAEDA IS DOING NEXT-JUDGE IT FROM BUSH'S OR BLAIR'S SPEACHES/STATEMENTS- THEY PREDICT THE NEXT ACTIVITY.OSAMA,AL ZWAHIRY'S ALL STATEMENTS /CASSETTES TIMELY APPEAR TO SUPPORT BUSH,BLAIR,ISRAEL'S ACTIONS,NEEDS.There have been 1600 Israeli agents in IRAQ not to play tennis, but to remote explode some hired part timers , some innocent employees ,labelled as suicide bombers,after blowing most of them , not even aware they 're on the suicide blast list that day, USA

S.Amin, FROM: S Amin: Terorism-Osama-Al Qaeda,9-11 are intelligence & political tools used to mis represent Muslims & Islam.This is the Ziocon propaganda / plans/acts used to attack Muslims / Islam after destroying USSR.This is the next/ current cold war.Osama & his team only appear in the media / cassettes of Al-Jazeera TV of the Qatar province of United States of America to save the face of USA,Israel,U.K... when in dire shame, after blunders,to rectify,justify & support the mistakes of Bush,Blair...& their team,to help them win elections,get congress,senate,parliament bills passed by OSAMA'S very ,very, very,timely cassette release THREATS.TERRORISM IS THE NEW TOOL USED TO IMPLEMENT THE NEW WORLD DISORDER. AL QAEDA IS SIMPLY A WING OF CIA / FBI / MOSAD / MI-5...'S HIRED BY MONEY & BLACKMAILING AGENTS.IF ANY BODY WANTS TO KNOW WHAT AL QAEDA IS DOING NEXT-JUDGE IT FROM BUSH'S OR BLAIR'S SPEACHES/STATEMENTS- THEY PREDICT THE NEXT ACTIVITY.OSAMA,AL ZWAHIRY'S ALL STATEMENTS /CASSETTES TIMELY APPEAR TO SUPPORT BUSH,BLAIR,ISRAEL'S ACTIONS,NEEDS.THESE CAT & MOUSE / TOM & JERRY CATOONS ARE CREATED TO FOOL THE WORLD, TO KEEP WAGING WARS,JUSTIFY CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY, JUSTIFY & LEGALISE COLOUR / RELIGIOUS DISCIMINATION,RACIALISM,COLONIALISM,INJUSTICE,SUPPORT PUPPET REGIMES..... THIS IS THE REAL FACE OF CAPITALISM,SO ROTTEN,POVERTY INDUCING THROUGH RUMOR-PRICE HIKE SYSTEM THAT IT WILL BRING THE SOCIALISM BACK BY THE FED UP MASSES OF PEOPLE ALL AROUND THE WORLD DUE TO THE BLOOD SUCKING,OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC BY THE ELITE MAFIA'S BY WAY OF WARS,RUMOR & DELIBERATELY SPONSORED ATTACKS-CIVIL WARS TO SHUT DOWN OIL SUPPLIES TO HIKE OIL PRICES & HENCE MARKET /COMMODITY PRICES,WHICH NEVER RETURN BACK/COME DOWN ( ITS GENERAL PUBLIC'S HARD EARNED MONEY STOLEN BY PRICE HIKES, INTO ELITE & CORPORATE CRIMNALS' POCKETS, TAXES ULTIMATELY POURING INTO ELITE/CORPORATE POCKETS.THERE IS NO REAL BASIS FOR ANY NATIONS / RELIGIONS / PEOPLE TO GO TO WARS. ITS THIS ELITISM/CORPORATE CULTURE/CAPITALISM/NEW WORLD DISORDER THAT SUPPORTS ALL THE WARS,CONFLICTS,TERROR ACTIVITIES/GANGS...THIS HAGEMONY IS MAINTAINED BY THE USA,EXPERT ADVISE & AID BY UK,FLARED & SPEARHEADED BY ISRAEL & ITS GOVERNOR GENERALS IN THE USA,UNWILLINGLY BY THE COALITION OF THE WILLING (ACTUALLY NON- WILLING,COUNTRIES).EVERY THING EXTREEME HAS AN END, THIS CAT & MOUSE/TOM & JERRY STORY / DRAMA WILL ULTIMATELY COME TO ITS LOGICAL END,ITS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME. ( S.AMIN: amin@iafrica.com )

Chris, This article was refreshing to see. I must say that most Americans like myself, who never had given thought to disliking Muslims or anyone else, are fed up. I think that your religion has left you collectively insane. there is no other way to justify all of the destruction caused by muslims - all in the name of religion. You should all burn in hell. Have a nice day

Jeff Belone, I am so sick of hearing how peaceful Islam is while stuff continues to blow up all over the world in Allahs name. Arabs cry for the palistinians but then treat them like garbage in neighboring muslim countries. Muslims print hateful things about Jews ALL THE TIME (even in school books!)but riot when they are offended by a truth based cartoon. The way Islam treats women is DISGUSTING! Muslims blame the West for all their problems when they should be looking to their own Facist Governments.

R Bowen, Remember when we were small children? Another child could take our toy or book, make us cry to our mothers, and then, five minutes later, we would be laughing and playing with that same child again, with no recollection of, or anger about what had transpired? I wish life, as adults, could be so simple. Can't we all see that, as human beings, we all want the same things? We want to be healthy. We want a home and family to love us. We want jobs so that we can provide for those families. Why must people disagree over trivial things like the past? Let's all do what God or Allah want us to do, love each other as brothers and sisters!

tony bear, The main problem that I see in the world today, is that people are getting too caught up in their own beliefs, to the point that their god will not only excuse any attrocities they commit but afford them certain luxuries in the 'afterlife'. Firstly, I don't know whether I believe in the 'afterlife', and secondly, if you murder or maim in supporting any cause, if there is an afterlife, you'll be going south not north.

E Latimer, Without forgiveness how can there be peace. To forgive an evil do'er takes great courage and strength of character. Two peoples can hate each other for 1000 years over one act of evil. We must deny evil to prevail like breaking a link in a chain for the sake of our children.

Jenifer Markoe, It is sad that we can be so limited in compassion, understanding, forgiveness and love of others, because of a few who have taken their religion to extremes. 9/11 hurt America not only in the lost of life, financial aspects, jobs ect it has made us become less tolerant of others and their culture and religious faith. It has brought out a following that you start prayers (like a invocation for a public High School gradation with members in the community who are of other faiths) with Jesus when using GOD was fine before. And as a Christian (Catholic) that makes me MAD. Why ? Who would what to join a religion that has becomes so uncaring of other feelings. Don't these other faiths members prayers mean anything ? Or just those to Jesus our worth are time. Most religions what to spead there believe so others can share in their goodness, love and hope. Unfortunaly, some of the USA leaders (Pres Bush) are not helping spread the best of christianity. BUT at the same token neither is Usama Bin Ladin helping the muslim faith. Whether we like or not we are on this earth together. God made us all differant and nothing will change that. Since hate is based on differance of other and it makes sense that the only way to find peace is to share what we have in common no matter how small that maybe. (And for those who are of Muslim, Christian or Jewish faith knowing that we believe in GOD maybe a good place to start)

hamza, http://www.loosechange911.com/

Anti-Bush Administration, I only have one thing to say is that BUSH is the BIGGEST TERRORIEST on earth. since he ruled America, the earth started boiling. just go back few years before bush ruling and you can compare. He started Sep/11 for his own interest and still doing what it takes to feed his interests. Ignoring the suffering of his soldiers in Iraq who commit suicide everyday.

ian, Do not be decieved by the false Islam religion.Repent and recieve Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.Consider truth not lies.

C. McDonald, I was pleasantly surprised to read your article. I feel deeply that education is the key to tolerance and peace. While I have great difficulty understanding the restraints placed on women in your beliefs, and believe that a woman's point of view should be valued for it's tendency for love and peace, it is good to know that education is a priority. As a Canadian I live in a very diverse community and the integration of many cultures and religious beliefs. As each of us become more familiar or educated about one another, and are given the opportunity to get to know each other as neighbours, how then would we want to hate or hurt one another, notwithstanding some personality clashes. Hatred is born of ignorance. Love and peace to you and yours.

Dave In America, Hajee Ahmed, your narrow-minded remarks about the woman "not properly attired" ALMOST makes me ignore everything else you posted. The unyielding and provincial attitude you reveal is exactly why ideological and cultural differences have managed to kill so many people. It's also the reason people develop and maintain such fierce hatred for his fellow man. When you cast your own subjective reality onto others, you are begging for problems. Americans are just as guilty of this crime as any others...perhaps -no, certainly- more so. We are all truely brothers and sisters of humanity, all made of the same elements which will cycle back around to witness a more harmoneous and peaceful manifestation of the universe. As for the rest of your post, I can hardly remember it now. Sorry.

pdn, After reading the article and following comments, here's what I arrived at. The first is that I am still correct in my assumptions that Islam is Islam. Period. Making the statement that Islam is terrorist is just plain stupid. We have the White Supremeists in Christianity. What bothers me the most is the lack of overt action taken by Muslims to say the terrorists are different then they are, and they (Muslims) do not believe (or if they do, say it) that the actions in Madrid, 9/11, et.al. were proper. ***** The responses also confirmed this is a matter of religion. Westerners are responding to being attacked. Even the Quron says we have the right and obligation to do just that. ***** Remember, the US led the United Nations in attempting to protect Muslims in southeastern europe. We did that because what was going on was wrong. My opinion, what we did was wrong and we got ourselves into a war we are still in from Clinton. ***** For the Bush haters- This war started because Truman was spineless and let the french and British draw the lines of the middle east to prevent one country from being too strong. Bad move. We have been attacked before even Bush I appeared on the scene. You choose to blame the messenger, not read the facts. ****** End of tirade- The west needs Muslims to come out and articulate (read yell!) that they, too, despise terrorism. Until that happens, westerners cannot tell the difference.

sandy, To Kumar... Salam I may not a Saudi but in your comments...Do you know what really u are saying? There's no such part of being a terrorists taught by Saudi education.IT JUST HAPPENED THAT they are late in the field of training and courses when it comes to education. But they are not taught of being a terrosrists for ur information. Islam teaches jihad in any form - note: It doesnt mean that Jihad you have to take and go to war or fight. Doing a good deed to ur fellow men is jihad. Smile to someone is Jihad and etc. Terrorist - define as people whom without fear of His God, no mercy -no heart etc. and these are the contradicts to the teaching of Islam. If you dont have any good words to say better be silent and never comment in any articles...

Bilal Baydoun, To all those caucasians in general and Americans in particular, that are giving advices on humanity, respect and compassion. your governments that you have elected have been supporting supressive arab regimes since the dawn of time, as long as their interest are presevered they wouldn't give a rats ass about fairness and equality and human rights outside their borders.

Sher Mohammad, The solution of Palestine is simple. The Zionists have created Israel without considering that God had forbidden doing this during exile. Ask any Jew and he would admit that God had driven Jews in exile for their sins. The creation of Israel in exile and ahead of Messiah's coming is a much greater sin. The real problem, therefore, concerns Israelis. An eminent Israeli author, Chaim Bermant has summed up Jewish history in his Book: "The Jews", thus: "Jews were rarely in control of their destinies and where they impinged on history it was because they were troublesome or in trouble." At the moment that have created trouble for themselves by defying God in creating Israel in exile and troublesome to the neighbours. Since America is protecting Israel, it, therefore, is also defying God ata great risk. The true religious Jews do not recognize Israel and they fear a terrible lightening rod strike against Israel at any moment.

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